It's International Quilting Day!

Is there a better time to be on retreat than on International Quilting Day?

With winter HOPEFULLY in the rear view mirror - we are looking ahead to a beautiful spring and getting into all of the quilty good trouble we can!

There is good food to enjoy, beautiful quilts to make, some make it and take it projects happening - and more.

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Let The Good Times Roll!

The Richmond Express gals are in the house and quilting up a storm!

And the projects are as varied as the conversations interrupted only by bursts of laughter.

You know, as I work my way into my older crone years, there is nowhere else I'd rather be with than a house full of like-minded quilters.

Everyone from different backgrounds and varying life experiences - we could write a book for the answers to all questions because SOMEONE in this house has been through what someone else is just embarking on.  It's marvelous!

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Up To Here!

Lookie, Lookie, Lookie!

I finally have enough blocks to start putting things together.

I say "Finally!"  You say "You are so fast!"  It doesn't feel like that.

But I tend to hyper-focus on things I want to see progressing.  That means that I don't have several projects going in many different stages so I have to decide what I'm going to work on on any given day.

It's one thing at the machine.  Until it's done.

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Well, Dang!

Have you ever spent weeks, months, years working on a project and then get to the point where you think you've made the wrong decision?

I pulled out my ever growing hexie top to see how the top border was going to look now that I've pieced enough of it and I'm not sure this is what I want?

Have I wasted hours and hours and hours?

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St. Patrick's Day in the Snow?

It started yesterday about 4pm.  The sleet mixed with the dreaded white stuff.

Once I heard it pelting against the windows of the QPO studio, I knew I better get home and get up the mountain fast before the drive covered over.

What the heck, Virginia!  It was 82 f degrees last Wednesday, and you pull THIS?!?!

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A Weekend Outing

There was a long list of necessary things -

New kitchen scrubbers for the inn, searching for some chair cushions for the wicker chairs at the side porch, cleaning products, paper products, cat care products (because, you know!)

And I thought I'd take the afternoon off and just go mosey and see what I could do without anyone in tow. (Because, if you usually have a spousal unit with you, then you also know!)

It's just nice not to be in an out and out hurry and take some time to look at possibilities, not just grab necessities and hurry on back.

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From Wednesday To Now!

This was Wednesday's beautiful preview of summer (in MARCH!) as we reached 82 degrees.

Crazy, right?

Grass is green, daffodils are blooming in the background - the peeper frogs down by the creek were singing their spring song. All was well.

Until night time blew in and we went from Fake Spring to Fake Summer and then back to below freezing in the course of the night.

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Brookgreen PDF Pattern Gift-Away!

Who says Friday the 13th is a spooky no-good day?

I love Friday the 13th - and it's perfect for a new pattern release, and a Gift-Away to go with it!

Say hello to Brookgreen!

Simple shapes and easy piecing create a stunning repeat of pattern and secondary designs, inspired by photo taken of vintage tile floors white traveling. 

Full color photos, Optional piecing methods, and directions to press for success!'

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Fake Spring!

It was nearly 80f yesterday.

In the coldest county in Virginia.  In MARCH.

Everything is blooming - I had to take a little trip to Independence yesterday (25 minute drive) and along the river and following the winding roads forsythia were blooming bright yellow as if to say "HELLO!"

Some trees are bursting out in pink blooms. "YES!" is my reply - pink blooming trees are my favorite.

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Am I Lost? Or Found?

On Monday, after coming home at lunch to medicate Mabel (who is doing much better, by the way!) and being relieved of my duties once Hubster Dave made it back home, I decided to take a little "back road drive" to the inn.

Only, I found my way at a crossroads not knowing whether I should turn left or right.

I should have turned left. ((I think?!) because I got kind of lost along the way...

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From Virginia With Love!

Yesterday's over-the-porch-rail photo shoot complete with sunshine and blue skies!

It's been a marvelous week with such wonderful weather - not counting the one and only day with rain which was needed to bring back the GREEN.

Everything is turning green.  Like magic.

And guess what I heard down by the creek yesterday morning?  PEEPER FROGS ARE BACK!

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Gone To The Dogs -

Our weekend started out like this - a beautiful early afternoon for a dirt road hike before the rain was set to come in.

Rain? What rain? Puffy clouds, blue sky - surely they are wrong about the rain?

It wasn't much longer (like we'd reached half-way) and we began to hear rumbles of thunder coming from those clouds.

Walk faster!

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Eat, Sleep, Quilt!

It is so awesome to have the retreat so full of happy quilters once again.

I felt like this winter was never going to end....and yet, just a few weeks later we have reached the point where Hubster Dave had to come remove the storm window from behind the kitchen window so we could open up the little wing windows and let some fresh air in because the kitchen was getting too hot with all of the wondrous food making going on!

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ALL. DAY. LONG!

Welcome to Porch Season!

I'm still holding my breath.  Our warmer temps into the 70s this week may still trigger some cataclysmic ice event and send us back into snowmageddon, but for now we are taking things one day at a time and dang well enjoying every moment of porch time we can get!

This photo was taken last evening after 6pm (YAY! It's still daylight!) after my return trip from the vent with Tula. I was gone ALL. DAY. LONG!

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Desk Day Done!

So what if my dreaded Desk Day took two days, and I've still got a form to fill out that I'm waiting for more info on after sending them an email requesting such?

If I send a reply email, with questions, at least they know I'm taking care of things as I can, right?

That means that the afternoon allowed me a couple of hours of machine time before the March Quiltvillians started arriving!

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Bouts of Scrapmania!

I mentioned that yesterday was a desk day.

Desk days are not that exciting - but are necessary for keeping things running and doing all of the things that need to be done.

I try to build myself up for those kinds of days - put on some nice music, make myself a big mug of lovely tea, light a candle to make things cozy - because the endless list of things to reply to, to fill out, to send off can be a drudge.  

It is what it is!

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Sew Long, Farewell!

I tend to call the Wednesday to Sunday retreats as Quickie Retreats. 

They are long enough to have some fun, but not long enough to spend enough time with a group while they are here.

Before we even turn around, it seems like its time to pack up and head home.

Back to jobs, family, grandkids, life!

I am so grateful for the time we did get to spend together making some fun memories through the weekend, and the Lincoln Quilt Guild ladies from Lincolnton, North Carolina have got some great quilt tops to show for it!

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In Between The Quilting!

As I continually looked at the weather app on my phone, trying to determine if the details were correct, or would they change, and in which direction - I set my sights on Saturday where temps would be firmly in the 60s.

Believing that the mud had enough time to dry a bit before I stepped out onto the first dirt road hike of 2026, I set my sights on a walk down by the river.

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